Joseph Drouhin : Montrachet Grand cru "Marquis de Laguiche" 2020

Tasting notes and serving advice for Joseph Drouhin’s Montrachet Grand Cru “Marquis de Laguiche” 2020

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a magnificent, radiant golden hue.

Nose

The nose reveals remarkable aromatic complexity. It opens with delicate floral notes of lily of the valley and peach blossom, accompanied by nuances of exotic fruits. Hints of honey mingle with touches of toasted almond, while subtle notes of fine woods emerge with aeration.

Palate

On the palate, this wine charms with its harmonious roundness that never becomes heavy. The texture is silky and creamy, carried by a fine vibrancy that brings balance and freshness. Flavors of white fruit unfold with elegance, lifted by a refreshing minerality. The long, persistent finish leaves a lasting impression of white-fleshed fruits and a touch of white pepper.

Food and wine pairings

This Montrachet Grand Cru pairs beautifully with grilled noble fish, refined seafood, and lobster Thermidor. It also matches wonderfully with poultry in cream sauces, white meats in velvety sauces, as well as creamy cheeses such as Brie and Comté.

Serving and cellaring

Montrachet Grand Cru “Marquis de Laguiche” 2020 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature of 14-15°C. Decanting for around 30 minutes before serving allows the wine to fully reveal its aromatic complexity. This wine can be enjoyed through around 2040.

An iconic Grand Cru from Burgundy by Joseph Drouhin

The estate

Founded in 1880 in Beaune, the Joseph Drouhin House is among Burgundy’s most prestigious négociant-éleveur houses. Now led by the family’s fourth generation, with Frédéric Drouhin as President, Philippe Drouhin in charge of the vineyards, Véronique Boss-Drouhin overseeing winemaking, and Laurent Drouhin as Export Director, the house manages nearly 93 hectares of vines. A pioneer of organic and biodynamic viticulture as early as the 1980s, it stands out for its philosophy of elegance and respect for terroir.

The vineyard

The Montrachet is a legendary Grand Cru of less than 8 hectares, located on the boundary between the communes of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, in the Côte de Beaune.

Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche is one of the estate’s jewels, from a 2.06-hectare plot that the House has cultivated and vinified since 1947. This parcel, entirely located on the Puligny-Montrachet slope, benefits from optimal south/southeast exposure and a very gentle incline. The soils are composed of brown-red earth scattered with smooth white limestone stones, giving the wine its remarkable mineral complexity. The vineyard is farmed according to biodynamic principles, with respectful practices including horse plowing, high-density plantings reaching up to 12,500 vines per hectare, and the complete absence of synthetic chemical products.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Burgundy was marked by exceptional weather conditions. After a mild winter, spring saw a few frost episodes without major consequences. Summer proved particularly hot and dry, with temperatures among the highest ever recorded in the region. This drought was punctuated by welcome localized rainfall, notably around Chablis. Health conditions remained excellent thanks to the lack of humidity, preventing any development of fungal diseases. Harvest began early, from late August for certain parcels. At Maison Joseph Drouhin, picking for the Côte de Beaune whites began on September 16, revealing grapes of remarkable concentration with white-fruit character and well-preserved acidity.

Vinification and aging

The grapes for Montrachet Grand Cru “Marquis de Laguiche” 2020 are harvested exclusively by hand and placed in small ventilated crates to preserve their integrity. After meticulous sorting, the bunches are pressed slowly and gently in a pneumatic press. The juice, after light settling, is racked into French oak barrels sourced from high-forest stands and seasoned for three years. Alcoholic fermentation occurs naturally thanks to indigenous yeasts. The wine then spends 18 to 21 months in barrel, during which malolactic fermentation also takes place. Around 30% of the barrels used are new, with the remaining 70% being older barrels that help preserve the terroir’s mineral expression. Throughout aging, decisions are made after careful tasting, in absolute respect for the expression of the terroir and the character of the vintage.

Grape variety

100% Chardonnay